Your bowels are trying to tell you something. Let’s listen.

Nobody wants to talk about constipation. I get it. It’s unglamorous, a little embarrassing, and yet somehow we have collectively agreed to suffer in silence rather than mention it at the dinner table. Or let’s be honest, anywhere.

But here is the thing, your bowels are the most reliable report cards your body produces. When things are not moving, its a clear indicator that something upstream is not functioning effectively, and as an acupuncturist, I take that very seriously. And believe me, us Chinese Medicine folk find it fascinating, so you’ll never make us uncomfortable. It’s simply one of your body’s signs that you may need some support!

Your headache is not just a headache - Acupuncture Sandringham

So, you reach for the Ibuprofen, again. It takes the edge off temporarily, but tomorrow the pain rears it’s ugly head again. Same spot, same time, same relentless throb or dull ache. Does this ring any bells for you?

For many women, headaches and migraines are an exhausting fact of life, often flaring at particular times in their menstrual cycle, after a stressful week, or seemingly out of nowhere. In Chinese Medicine, a headache is never considered just a headache. Rather, it is a signal, and where it resides in your head tells us a great deal about what is driving it.

So, what’s going on for you recently?

✅ Your sleep has fallen off a cliff

✅ Your mood can turn on a dime

✅ Your cycle is doing things it’s never done before

✅ And has someone cranked the heating up all of a sudden?🔥

You’re not sick exactly, but you’re definitely not yourself!

Are you over 38 and have been taken off guard because you weren’t anticipating these changes so soon? Then, welcome to perimenopause, my friend! 🫶

Here’s the thing nobody tells you, that perimenopause can begin up to 10 years before your last period. That’s an eternity to feel out of sorts, without anyone connecting the dots for you.

You know that feeling when everything just flows? You sleep well, you’re not catastrophising at 3am, your cycle arrives as it should and you actually feel like yourself. In Chinese Medicine, that’s your Shen talking, and she’s very happy.

Endometriosis affects 1 in 7 Australian women, yet it takes an average of 6-8 years to diagnose. It occurs whenn tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causing inflammation, scarring and often significant pain.

In Chinese Medicine, this pain is diagnosed as the stagnation of both Qi and Blood in the pelvis, thus resulting in blocked circulation within the lower abdomen, ultimately disrupting smooth menstrual flow.

In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed at times. Whether it’s work stress, family responsibilities, study pressure or constant mental chatter, many women and teenage girls experience tension that simmers quietly beneath the surface. After a while though, it can begin to affect sleep, mood and physical health.

Modern life can be demanding! We’re often rushing between work and family commitments, grabbing a snack on the go (if at all!), meaning that our digestive health can often take a back seat. Many women I see in my Sandringham clinic describe feeling bloated, sluggish or uncomfortable after eating. Others notice their energy falls off a cliff in the afternoon, or that their mood and sleep are impacted when their digestion feels ‘off’.

If I had a dollar for every time I’ve been asked the following question, I’d be a retired millionaire, lying on a desert island somewhere exotic, being brought cocktails whilst being treated to a foot massage 💰🏝️🍹…but I digress!

Chinese Medicine is very much based on the adage ‘Food is Medicine’. Although, as we know, not all foods are created equal.